Abstract: A multifunctional pushbutton switch for a vehicle steering wheel has a plurality of pushbutton switching units that have pushbutton surfaces located close to each other in a shared operating surface. The switch has a shared switch housing in which actuation tappets of the pushbutton switching units are movably guided, and a cap mounted over the actuation tappets and onto the switch housing. The cap is made by means of a two-component injection-molding technique and consists of a relatively rigid plastic frame with recessed windows each of a shape and size that corresponds to the circumference of one of the pushbutton surfaces and of a silicone membrane extending over the recessed windows.

Abstract: An explosive composition comprises a porous fuel and an oxidizer. The porous fuel is a solid with a structure size measuring between about 2 nm and 1000 nm and has a porosity that lies between 10% and 98%. The oxidizer is solid or liquid at room temperature and is incorporated into the pores of the porous fuel. The oxidizer is selected, in an amount of at least 50% by weight relative to a total quantity of the oxidizer, from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl ammonium nitrate, organic nitro compounds or nitrates, alkali metal nitrates or earth alkali metal nitrates as well as metal nitrites, metal chlorates, metal perchlorates, metal bromates, metal iodates, metal oxides, metal peroxides, ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes an actuatable vehicle occupant protection device (12), and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device (20) energizable to cause actuation of the protection device. In one embodiment, the MEMS device (20) is an energizable fluid source for emitting a primary fluid for actuating an inflatable protection device (12). The apparatus (10) may comprise a plurality of MEMS devices (20) individually actuatable to control inflation of the protection device.

Abstract: A method routes an entity (200) through a predetermined area for scanning the content of the predetermined area. The method comprises the steps of: partitioning the predetermined area into cells (100); determining a starting cell for the entity (200); initiating a scan of a number of the cells from the starting cell and determining the content of each of the number of cells; and determining a total cost for the entity (200) to travel to each of the scanned cells and to perform a scan from each of the scanned cells.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a switch assembly (12). The switch assembly (12) includes a housing (16) and a set of contacts (14) supported by the housing. The set of contacts (14) includes a first contact (20) and a second contact (40). The first contact (20) includes a first pad portion (22) supported in the housing (16) and a first connector portion (26) protruding from the housing. The first connector portion (26) includes a compliant connector (220). The second contact (40) includes a second pad portion (42) supported in the housing (16) and a second connector portion (54) protruding from the housing. The second pad portion (42) is movable relative to and is engageable with the first pad portion (22). The second connector portion (54) includes a compliant connector (220).

Abstract: A supply voltage and/or bias of a switching amplifier is modified based on at least one characteristic of the input signal relative to a threshold level. A binary waveform converter converts the input signal into a binary waveform for inputting into the switching amplifier. The switching amplifier amplifies the input signal, while the supply voltage and/or bias is modified in response to changes of the at least one characteristic of the input signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for lateral movement of sheets (2) during transport thereof to a stacking device (11) such that the sheets (2) or stacks of sheets occupy laterally displaced positions relative to each other in the stacking device (11). A high-speed printer (6) is provided for printing the sheets (2) or a continuous web which is then cut to sheets (2). A vacuum generating device has vacuum means (12, 13) with vacuum openings located within vacuum holes (20) in conveyor belts (14), and is provided to generate a vacuum in said vacuum openings and vacuum holes (20) that said conveyor belts (14) can grip or engage and transport the sheets (2).

Abstract: An apparatus comprises vehicle seat belt webbing (18), a cylinder (50), and a piston (60) movable in the cylinder to effect pretensioning of the seat belt webbing. The apparatus also comprises a fluid source (10) for providing fluid under pressure to move the piston (60) in the cylinder (50). The fluid source (10) comprises a propellant container (122) defining a propellant chamber (123) and a propellant (82) in the propellant chamber. The propellant (82) is ignitable to produce fluid under pressure. The propellant container (122) comprises a first portion (124) made from plastic and a second portion (126) made from metal. The metal portion (126) is secured to the plastic portion (124) to effect a hermetic seal of the propellant container (122).

Abstract: A steering wheel unit for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, comprises a connection hub which may be non-rotatably connected with a steering shaft of a steering device, a steering wheel rim which is non-rotatably connected with the connection hub by spokes, and a central piece which is mounted by a spacer element to the connection hub so as to be rotatable relative to the steering shaft and the steering wheel rim. The steering wheel unit further comprises a coupling device which arrests the central piece with respect to a rotational movement of the steering wheel rim. The spacer element has a first end which is non-rotatably connected with the central piece, and has a second other end which is rotatably mounted to the connection hub and constructed as a crash element. The crash element fails after a predetermined failure value of a force driving the central piece towards the connection hub.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) includes an air bag (30) and an inflator (40) for inflating the air bag. The apparatus (10) also includes a bracket (120) having an elongated back plate portion (122), a first flange portion (130), and a second flange portion (150). The flange portions (130 and 150) extend transverse to the back plate portion (122). The inflator (40) is insertable into the bracket. A first end portion (80) of the inflator (40) engages the first flange portion (130) and a second end portion (90) of the inflator engages the second flange portion (150) while the inflator is inserted in the bracket (120). The inflator (40) urges the first and second flange portions (130 and 150) to deflect away from each other while the inflator is inserted in the bracket (120). The first and second flange portions (130 and 150) are urged toward each other by resilience of the bracket and exert a clamping force on the inflator (40) to retain the inflator in the bracket (120).

Abstract: A device for tensioning a safety belt includes a motor and a traction transmission device having a first end and a second end. The second end of the traction transmission device is coupled to a belt buckle or an end fitting of the safety belt. The motor is constructed as a tensioner drive for an emergency tensioning. The traction transmission device is coupled to the motor such that a drive movement of the motor is converted into a longitudinal movement of the traction transmission device.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying granular material to a rail adjacent to a wheel of a train includes a granular supply material container to which a granular material injection assembly is connected. The granular material injection assembly includes a housing having a mixing chamber. An insert is connected with the housing. A first end portion of the insert has an air inlet through which air flows into the mixing chamber. A second end portion of the insert has an air outlet through which air and granular material flow from the mixing chamber. A valve may be mounted in the air inlet portion of the insert. A venturi may be mounted in the air outlet portion of the insert. A deflector portion of the insert deflects granular material away from a path of flow of air between the air inlet and the air and granular material outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes spaced contacts (40). A rocking contact (50) has first and second arms (52 and 54) in electrical contact with each other and is supported for rocking movement in opposite first and second directions. The first arm (52) is movable into engagement with a first one of the contacts (40) when the rocking contact (50) rocks in the first direction. The second arm (54) is movable into engagement with the second one of the contacts (40) when the rocking contact (50) rocks in the second direction. An actuator (32) is pivotable to effectuate rocking movement of the rocking contact (50) in the first and second directions. The first and second contacts (40) include respective terminals (70 and 76) for helping to mount the apparatus. The terminals (70 and 76) each comprise compliant pin connectors.

Abstract: A steering apparatus (10) for a vehicle having steerable road-engaging wheels comprises a rotatable steering wheel (11) and a sensor (12) which senses the rotational position of the steering wheel and generates a first signal corresponding to the sensed rotational position of the steering wheel (11). A first electric motor (14), when energized, resists rotation of the steering wheel (11). A second electric motor (20) is controlled by the signal generated by the sensor for sensing the rotational position of the steering wheel (11). A steering gear (130) is actuated by the second electric motor (20) to turn the steerable wheels of the vehicle. An electrical circuit (19) includes the first and second motors (14 and 20) in series.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wire golf ball retriever having a substantially circularly light bulb shaped wire formed member with space between adjacent wires to allow the passage of golf balls into the confines thereof so as to retrieve golf balls from relatively inaccessible places including under water in ponds and streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle interior lining assembly for a roof frame. The lining assembly comprises an interior lining and a gas bag module fastened to the lining, the gas bag module having a gas bag which extends substantially from an A-column of the vehicle to a C-column of the vehicle. The lining is comprised of at least two lining pieces which together with the gas bag module form a preassembled unit and which before a final installation of the unit in the vehicle are displaceable with respect to each other.

Abstract: A gas generator comprises a tubular housing of a pressure-resistant material and a propellant strand incorporated in the housing. The propellant strand is provided with an envelope surrounding the propellant strand. The envelope is dimensionally stable and substantially rests against the entire outer surface of the propellant strand. The envelope is formed such that in the case of an increase in pressure it expands and rests against the inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device at lift trucks, including a chassis (3) with a driving compartment (2) and a lifting device (9) for lifting goods.

Abstract: A pulse width modulator is presented herein and it includes a pulse width driver circuit that receives a time varying ramp signal that is modulated by a time varying analog input signal to produce a pulse width modulated drive signal comprised of turn-on pulses having widths that vary with variations in the magnitude of said input signal. A switch is turned on by each drive pulse for a time duration dependent upon the duration of each drive pulse and provides an output signal therefrom. A negative bias amplifier provides a negative bias signal that has pulsations that are synchronized with said drive pulses but of opposite phase. A combiner combines output signal with the negative bias signal to provide a combined output signal.

Abstract: Accuracy and speed of biometric identity verification are significantly improved by use of multiple simultaneous scans of biometric features of a user, such as multiple fingerprints, using multiple scanners (40, 50) of smaller size than would be needed to accommodate all of the fingerprints in a single scanner (30), and using multiple parallel processors (42, 52), or a single higher speed processor, to process the fingerprint data more efficiently. Obtaining biometric data from multiple user features by use of multiple scanners increases verification accuracy, but without the higher cost and slower processing speed that would be incurred if a single large scanner were to be used for improved accuracy.